On the left are the much loved Red Israeli, on the right are what is claimed to be the UK packaging of the Red Israeli. To me, there are clear differences on the printing. Blades are the most mysterious part of this equation, but any light that can be shed on this would be much appreciated.

I'm very interested to know too because I just purchase 100 of the blade on the right. I've used the Red Israeli before with good results. For the price on the others I figured they were worth a shot. $12 shipped I believe.

Just because the printing is different doesn't make them different blades. Who knows when each was produced and if the machinery was changed during the interim. They may be the same or they may be different.

I've used both for several years. I currently have about 100 of each and for the past two months have been rotating them after 3 shaves. I know they are supposed to be the same, but I notice a difference between them. I find the blades in the 5 pack to be sharper and those in the UK pack smoother and more forgiving. I actually prefer the UK packaging. The printing is the same on the blades I have, but the UK have a CD10 marking on the fin.

I've heard that the blades in the UK package are now coming in a plain white wrapper with no printing on the blade. I'm hoping the blade is the same.

I have the plain white envelopes inside the UK plastic tuck. My experience is that the red cardboard tuck blades seem smoother, and more forgiving than the UK pack. Neither can go past 4 shaves. I don't have a heavy or coarse beard. I've been going back and forth in my 1st gen Tradere OC with these two blades, and so far they have been the best at taming that beast, but the edge goes to the Red Pack.

I normally toss all blades after 2 shaves. Blades are cheap and I like a fresh one. It's only the past couple of months while comparing the Personna that I've gone to 3 shaves on a blade. I use them in a 40's style SuperSpeed.

(02-24-2013, 08:02 PM)CMur12 Wrote: At the risk of a minor hijack, I hand-strop every blade before the first use and after each use. For me, the best shave is the first on each blade, and it gradually deteriorates from there.

- Murray

The first shave on some blades is a bit rough, for me, Derby being the prime example. Hand-stropping helps with these. Many other blades, RPs included, at least for me, do not require hand-stropping to smooth out the first shave.

(02-24-2013, 08:02 PM)CMur12 Wrote: At the risk of a minor hijack, I hand-strop every blade before the first use and after each use. For me, the best shave is the first on each blade, and it gradually deteriorates from there.

- Murray

The first shave on some blades is a bit rough, for me, Derby being the prime example. Hand-stropping helps with these. Many other blades, RPs included, at least for me, do not require hand-stropping to smooth out the first shave.

YMMV!

The latest, brand new UK version has no blade printing & white wrappers. There are many, many variations available, new & old stocks. Personna say the change is to speed up production as they cannot make them fast enough.